Spielberg bei Knittelfeld (Austria) (AFP)
German Sebastian Vettel on Thursday delivered a different version of the previous one about his divorce from Ferrari, saying he was "surprised to receive a call from Mattia (Binotto, the boss of La Scuderia) saying that the team had not l 'intention to continue' with him in 2021.
Asked on the sidelines of the Grand Prix opening of the 2020 season in Austria about what had failed negotiations for his contract extension, the quadruple world champion replied: "We never started discussions, it there was never an offer on the table and therefore there was no sticking point. "
Until then, the two sides assured that the decision to separate after six seasons since 2015 had been taken jointly, the media rumor evoking disagreements concerning the duration of the contract and the salary of the pilot, who will be 33 years old Friday.
Asked later about his future in the queen category, Vettel added that he has no discussions at the moment.
"I want to make sure I make the best decision for myself and my future," he said. "I am very competitive by nature, I have already done a lot in this sport and I am motivated and eager to do more. For this, I need the right car and the right people around me, it's what I am looking for."
If this opportunity does not arise, "it would probably be time to do something else," said the German, who was asked if he would rather consider a sabbatical or retirement.
"Having said that, I believe that if you are ready to close the door, you must be ready to do so and not wait for it to reopen, if you know what I mean. You must be aware of the decisions you make. take it and that's why I'm not in a hurry, "he concluded, seeming to comment on the case of Fernando Alonso.
The double Spanish world champion, who left F1 at the end of 2018, regularly expresses his desire to return and was recently linked to Renault, which is looking for a replacement for the Australian Daniel Ricciardo in 2021.
The announcement of the separation of Vettel and Ferrari had taken everyone by surprise in mid-May, while the 2020 season, which should have started in mid-March in Australia, was delayed by the pandemic of new coronavirus.
It will finally start this weekend in Austria, on the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, the first of a series of eight races in Europe until early September.
© 2020 AFP